we tell you all the facts - it's your right to know
Tampons are associated with a rare but potentially fatal disease known as Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS for short. We've taken a look at TSS, the symptoms, and what you can do to protect yourself.
After all, you have a right to know.
What is TSS?
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but potentially serious illness that can develop quickly in anyone - men, women and children (cases of TSS have resulted from burns, boils, insect bites and surgery). In extreme cases it may prove fatal, and has been known to cause blindness, deafness, kidney failure and the loss of fingers and toes amongst survivors.
What causes TSS?
TSS is caused by the common bacterium - Staphylococcus aureus - which normally lives harmlessly on the skin and in the nose, armpit, groin or vagina of one in every three people. In rare cases certain strains of these bacteria can produce toxins (poisons) that cause TSS.
How rare is TSS and who can get it?
There are probably around 40 cases of TSS per year in the UK. Half the reported cases are associated with women using tampons, and research has shown that about two-thirds of cases of TSS occur in people under the age of 25. However, it is believed that many less severe cases go unreported.
Symptoms of tampon related TSS
Flu-like symptoms usually begin after the start of a period. These symptoms may include headache, sore throat, aching muscles and high temperature. Vomiting, watery diarrhoea, a rash, confusion, dizziness and low blood pressure may follow.
Only one or two symptoms may occur, they do not necessarily occur in sequence or all at once , and may not all persist.
What to do if you have symptoms?
- Remove the tampon.
- Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
- Tell the doctor that you are menstruating and have used a tampon.
- DO NOT WORRY that you may be wasting the doctor's/hospital's time.
How to minimise the risk
Since there is no way at present of testing your immunity to the toxin and Staphylococcus aureus, the only factor you can control is your decision to use tampons. If you decide to continue to use tampons you could minimise the risk and maintain your awareness by the following:-
- Always use the lowest possible absorbency tampon and change it regularly. Never use a Super Tampon as an alternative to changing a Regular Tampon more frequently
- Break your use by using a sanitary towel at least once every 24 hours, perhaps at night
- Change your tampon every 4-8 hours, or as directed on pack
- If you decide to use tampons at night, always insert a fresh tampon just before going to bed and remove it as soon as you get up
- Remember to remove the last tampon at the end of your period
- Do not use tampons if you have had any unusual vaginal discharge
- Always wash your hands before and after inserting and changing a tampon. Handle the tampon as little as possible
- Never insert more than one Tampon at a time
- Always read the warnings
All packs of tampons carry some limited information about TSS on the packaging, often with further details contained in a leaflet. However, many women do not read the leaflet. That is why we have put a large, clear warning on all packs of Co-operative Tampons, with advice about the symptoms and how to reduce the risk of tampon related TSS.
ALWAYS read the information, and tell your family and friends - men, as well as women - so that they know about the symptoms too.
For further information contact Customer Relations here.
Alice's story
Alice Kilvert, aged 15, died on Tuesday, 26th November 1991 of tampon related Toxic Shock Syndrome at Trafford General Hospital, Manchester.
Alice's symptoms were initially very mild and did not cause any undue concern. On the Sunday prior to her death she complained of a headache, which persisted but eased with aspirin. During Sunday evening she was able to watch television, but she was sick during the night. Although very pale on the Monday morning, she went to school in order to start her mock GCSE exams.
Later she was taken home, as she appeared to be developing influenza. Alice went straight to bed, and by teatime she had a slight temperature. At 7pm she was alert enough to talk about the early evening TV she had missed, but by 10pm she seemed vague and confused and a little faint.
The next morning Alice's breathing was shallow and she had a higher temperature, so the emergency doctor was called. The doctor phoned for an ambulance to take Alice to hospital - when the ambulance staff tested Alice’s blood pressure it was so low it hardly registered. Alice arrived at hospital at 9am and her condition was diagnosed as either Toxic Shock Syndrome or meningitis and her treatment began.
She was then taken into Intensive Care and put on a ventilator, as her breathing was giving cause for concern. However, the strain on her heart brought on two cardiac arrests. Alice did not recover from the second one, and died at 1pm.
Further information can be obtained by writing to:
Alice Kilvert Tampon Alert,
16 Blinco Road,
Urmston,
Manchester
M41 9NF
or visit the website www.tamponalert.org.uk